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Level: LB Advent Calendar 2006 - The Stolen Present back home search
Author(s): zip_1
total rating:7.23 Gameplay &
Puzzles		 Enemies,
Objects &
Secrets		 Atmosphere,
Sound &
Cameras		 Lighting &
Textures
Akcy 8 8 8 8
CC 7 7 6 6
Gerty 6 7 7 7
Ivan 6 7 7 7
Jay 8 8 8 8
Jose 8 7 8 7
Kristina 8 8 8 8
Loupar 7 6 6 7
MichaelP 6 7 8 7
Obig 8 8 8 8
Orbit Dream 6 7 8 8
reborn1995 6 7 7 7
Shady Croft 6 8 7 7
Shandroid 7 8 7 7
Whistle 7 6 8 8
category averages
(15 reviews)		 6.93 7.27 7.40 7.33

Reviewer's comments

"Well, that was one well hidden present! Or easily discovered, depending on how fast you acquire the keys, move stuff around, and use things in your inventory. I loved the Christmas cards and candycane. At the start Lara makes her way through an interesting icy canyon with jumps, climbs, tunnels, crawlspaces, and runs to avoid little ice beasts. Then she discovers a housing complex hidden away in the mountains. There are some clever little 'tricks' in this level. I shot one of the busts and assumed because the other one wasn't shootable that that was it. Never dawned on me to push it! I would have liked to see this expanded as it shows great potential. As it is it's a nice short level appropriate to the season." - CC (20-Mar-2007)

"It's a simply level, but funny. A gameplay really fast, there's no option to get stucked; only when you open the bathroom door and enter you can get disoriented, there is nothing there... nothing? There's always something you need behind a closed door opened with a key. I thought Lara would not have guns during the entire level, but I was mistaked, she will get her pistols without change the level! Textures aren't bad, but I think lights could be some more worked (although I like luminous levels). It's not a fabulous level but I enjoy this kind of levels." - José (04-Feb-2007)

"A reasonable run around and much backtracking to get all the switches done and items found. No enemies except the little doll thing you could not kill, just had to avoid it, although you did need to find the pistols and ammo to shoot objects. Puzzles not really a part of the level as such, but you did have to move one or two objects. Graphics fine but not outstanding and a coldish atmosphere was created for the outdoor scenes. Sound OK but again nothing stood out. A playable level despite the omissions." - Whistle (01-Feb-2007)

"Some interesting features in this level, like starting with no guns and then plenty of stuff to shoot once Lara gets her hands on them. The initial exercise course it not too tricky and then there is maybe a bit too much articifical back and forth around the house, even though nicely guided with cameras, so you never really wonder too much about what to do next. Nice and relaxing 30 minute level." - MichaelP (15-Jan-2007)

"The first 30% of this level is total filler--doesn't really add anything to the gameplay or mission. it's just a lot of rooms and halls and water to go through before you get to what is obviously the real place of gameplay. i warn you, you might be bored for the first 10 minutes or so. when you actually get to the large area with all the buildings, its alright. lots of figuring out what the next step is--going back and forth to do the right levers and switches in order. overall i didn't feel like it was super christmas-ee. i found three secrets (which weren't placed very secretly at all). overall it seemed to me like there should've been quite a bit more to do in the rooms that were decorated so well. hardest part? figuring out how to put the fire out to get to the ladder. i'm a huge fan of Christmas levels, but i personally don't recommend this one unless you are just determined to play all the xmas levels like i am. --Guy" - reborn1995 (13-Jan-2007)

"Another level playable on the Mac. At the start you encounter an impish figure, you could shoot but it is also pretty easy to avoid them throughout this icy level. Exploring is the name of the game but don’t be fooled as some traps are thrown in for good measure. There is quite a lot of back and fro once you are in the main area where the house is situated. Although the house looks huge form the outside, from the inside you only visited a couple of rather small rooms in search for the missing present. Getting keys and the nice re-textured crowbar you also need some keys to progress. Found three secrets in the progress" - Gerty (09-Jan-2007)

"When i got key for bathroom, thinking what to do there. Little blue aliens-gremlins atack you but not too harmfull for your health. Places is make there and for running and about 30-40min level done. You can use buttons when pushed away some blocks statue od just in other case shoot too :). Its little easy to find all what you need. Keys are almost in front of your nose. Its okay for christmas level but too short and not too atmospheric. Its okay when is done :)" - Ivan (25-Dec-2006)

"This is also a lovely christmas adventure. Lara is on track of the stolen present. Through the caves in the mountain you will reach the house where the present was hidden. Meanwhile two small gnomes and some traps try to hold you up, but they are not dangerous. You have to gather various items in the christmas ornamented house and its wardrobes, and also find levrs that bring you closer to the solution of this mistery. At the beginning you don't even have your pistols; surely that you will be not able to hurt the evil goblins. For the challenges to complete you need some weapons, so you will get it, and you can also use a waterskin for fighting a fire. You can collect three secrets on this level. You can find a Hungarian walkthrough (as we don't have English version), savegames and pictures here: http://treditor.hu/16/the_stolen_present.htm" - Obig (20-Dec-2006)

"It's always pleasent to play a level which involves little or no violence,and this is a good example of that type.Instead of shooting,you have exploring to do;which is a bit of a shame,as the puzzles are essentially of the "Go to A,pick up item;proceed to B,use item;door opens back near A again" variety,and you end up becoming overly familiar with the rather enclosed playing area. In fact,the initial journey was rather more enjoyable than the arrival,but even here you encountered a rather imperfect rolling-boulder sequence. The use of objects was handled well (I worked out that the Candy-cane was the equivalent of the Crowbar completely by accident)but some of the objects were pointless (in particular,the moveable tables;and there was a switch I was never able to use);while others were a little too esoteric (the bottle for dousing the fire,which was only effective if Lara stood at a particular angle). If you play this in the spirit suggested you should have a pleasent experience. It seems churlish to grumble when it's only meant as a bit of harmless fun." - Orbit Dream (16-Dec-2006)

"This is another level with an enemy, but thankfully Lara leaves him behind. Rolling balls can smash Lara here, which isn't my favorite thing in a level, along with having enemies bite at my ankles. When we finally arrive at some building which happens to have rooms decorated in the Christmas style. The building looks like a big warehouse; no style points here. But the rooms are nicely Christmasy, but I felt highly claustrophobic with all the low ceilings. The worst part of the level is all the back and forth trekking between buildings. There is not much out there worse than backtracking, and here you have it in spades. Mercifully, the two buildings are very close. Nice use of objects, puzzles were a bit convoluted at times and didn't make a whole lot of sense, but I was quite fond of the breaking glass window and candy cane crowbar. Christmas music was not present and would have been nice to listen to. Not a bad a level and I enjoyed it quite a bit." - Shandroid (16-Dec-2006)

"Very simple level with no important enemies (only two at start), no difficult puzzles and with nice settings. There are two secrets and the net time of gameplay is about 40 min. I like the small medipack over the harmless fire and the candy-crowbar." - Loupar (15-Dec-2006)

"I didnt really like this level to be honest and the reasons for that dont need to apply on everyone. First of all,the story,is simple and Christmas-like. Lara is off to look for a stolen present. You start the level sliding into a snowy place with a little impish creature walking towards you, after afew minutes of running through snowy tunnels you get to a house...I thought the inside of the house didnt really capture the feeling of Christmas,eventhough there were christmas trees,presents and greeting cards spread around here and there. There were no special puzzles and I felt the whole game was based on get a key,use it,find another key,pull and object to get a key,pull a switch and going back and forth between 2 building in a very messey way,the whole back and forth goings were connected in a very messey way as well and,for me, made no logic sense...more than once I kept saying "What am I doing here ?". It would have been really nice as well if the author had used some Christmas soundtracks,but thats not a big issue for me anyway. Overall,its quite a good level,ok but not great, and what I have mentioned above doesnt have to apply for everyone else." - Shady Croft (14-Dec-2006)

"The title flyby looked better than the actual level, with the big building and the falling snow and night sky, however it's nice enough. Once gets out of the icy tunnels, Lara runs a few times between the two buildings to find/use all that is necessary to complete the level. I liked the candy for crowbar, cards on the floor, and one nice picture, needs to shoot out. It's a nice level with the Christmas atmosphere." - Akcy (12-Dec-2006)

"What’s this? Enemies in an advent level? Those little ice imps draw blood; stay away from them. Initially I thought this was going to be more of a general winter level than particularly Christmassy. It’s full of artful misdirection and winding snowy tunnels until you get to a large building to explore and the Christmas aspect kicks in with all the decorations and some beautiful cards lying about on the floor. Nice use of objects – a wine bottle to fill with water rather than the usual waterskin and a candy cane for a crowbar. Not a difficult level, but enough little twists to keep it interesting." - Jay (10-Dec-2006)

"This one is easy, thirty minutes long for me with small creatures as enemies. The setting is festive with houses and an icy environment around. The goal is to find the stolen present after accessing a few areas that need keys and use the candy/crowbar. There’s not much to say about it, I found three secrets. Just play it for the fun of it and to get into that jolly atmosphere Christmas bring us." - Kristina (08-Dec-2006)
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